Sample preparation and test methods for diagnosing chronic wasting disease

Abstract

A prion disease test kit is provided that allows for quick sample collection by an untrained individual and accurate testing of the sample in a lab, which is remote from the sample collection location. The prion disease test kit allows a lay person to easily collect tissue samples from the field and submit the collected tissue samples for prion disease testing, such as testing for chronic wasting disease, at a different location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for testing for a prion disease, said method comprising:
 (a) receiving a third eyelid sample extracted from a mammalian subject;   (b) subjecting at least 50 weight percent of said third eyelid sample to homogenization to thereby form a homogenized eyelid sample; and   (c) testing said homogenized third eyelid sample for a prion disease.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 90 weight percent of said third eyelid sample is subjected to homogenization. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said third eyelid sample is extracted by lay person not formally trained in extracting test samples from animals. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said mammalian subject comprises a harvested wild mammalian subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said testing comprises RT-QuIC testing. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said homogenization comprises: (i) adding homogenization beads and a dilution liquid to said third eyelid sample to form a pre-homogenized mixture and (ii) agitating the pre-homogenized mixture to thereby form said homogenized eyelid sample. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said mammalian subject comprises an ungulate mammal. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said third eyelid sample comprises a third eyelid of a ruminant. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said prion disease comprises chronic wasting disease. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiving comprises receiving said third eyelid sample in a mailing container. 
     
     
         11 . A method for testing for chronic wasting disease, said method comprising:
 (a) receiving a third eyelid sample extracted from an ungulate;   (b) subjecting at least 50 weight percent of said third eyelid sample to homogenization to thereby form a homogenized eyelid sample; and   (c) testing said homogenized eyelid sample for chronic wasting disease.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least 90 weight percent of said third eyelid sample is subjected to homogenization. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said third eyelid sample is extracted by lay person not formally trained in extracting test samples from animals. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said ungulate comprises a harvested wild ungulate. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said testing comprises RT-QuIC testing. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said homogenization comprises: (i) adding homogenization beads and a dilution liquid to said third eyelid sample to form a pre-homogenized mixture and (ii) agitating the pre-homogenized mixture to thereby form said homogenized eyelid sample. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said ungulate comprises a ruminant. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said receiving comprises receiving said third eyelid sample in a mailing container. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said third eyelid sample in step (a) is contained in a sample container, wherein said sample container comprises a substrate, a dilution liquid, and an RT-QuIC reaction buffer. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said RT-QuIC reaction buffer comprises NaH 2 PO 4 , NaCl, EDTA, thioflavin T, or combinations thereof.